Bach’s finest orchestral works

Like Sato, Bach was a master violinist, who could also play organ and harpsichord exceptionally well. His finest concertos therefore nearly always have a solo for violin or keyboard. The programme includes Bach’s popular violin concerto in E major, the double concerto for violin and oboe, and ‘Brandenburg’ concerto no. 5, in which the harpsichord took the limelight as a solo instrument for the first time. The concert opens with Orchestral Suite no. 1, in which all the groups of the orchestra get a chance to shine. Besides music by Bach, there are also works by Pisendel and Buffardin. Though they may be unfamiliar names today, Pisendel was the star violinist of Bach’s day and Buffardin was a world-famous flautist. Many of Bach’s solo works were ideally suited to them.